Pennsylvania Online Casino And Sports Betting

On May 28, SugarHouse’s PA online sportsbook began testing its app in the state, becoming the first app in PA to do so.

And as promised, on July 15, two online casinos began testing: Hollywood and Parx. SugarHouse PA online casino started testing on Wednesday, July 17. As of today, there are three online casinos in operation.

In November 2018, Pennsylvania became the sixth post-PASPA state to offer sports betting. Sports betting launched at only one casino in November. To date, there are nine PA sportsbooks in operation and four online sportsbooks.

Here is a handy guide for those NJ online casino aficionados who are curious about how the Keystone State does online gambling.

PA online sports betting

PA online sportsbooks got off and running in late May 2019. SugarHouse PA sportsbook was the first to launch its site in the state. Parx and BetRivers (SugarHouse’s PA sister site) joined the fun a month later with FanDuel launching in July 2019.

Sports betting in Pennsylvania became legal in 2017 when the larger online gambling legislation was signed into law. However, as with NJ sports betting, any action was dependent on the US Supreme Court’s ruling.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) mandated a $10 million license fee and a 36 percent tax rate on sports betting, positions that far exceed the requirements in most other states, including NJ.

Due to the onerous licensing fee and taxation rate for offering sports betting, the casinos have been far more hesitant to throw their hats in the ring.

That being said, plenty of casinos eventually signed up. But SugarHouse and Rush Street Interactive beat them all to the finish line by launching first.

Online sportsbook launch timeline

Casino

Online Sportsbook Launch

Retails Sportsbook Launch

Hollywood Casino at Penn National

Summer 2019

Nov. 17, 2018

Parx Casino Sportsbook

June 24, 2019 (soft launch)

Jan. 10, 2019

Rivers Casino

June 25, 2019 (soft launch)

Dec. 15, 2018

SugarHouse Casino

May 28, 2019 (soft launch), May 31 (live)

Dec. 15, 2018

Harrah's Philadelphia

Summer 2019

Jan. 22, 2019

Valley Forge Casino/FanDuel

July 22, 2019 (soft launch)

March 13, 2019

The Oaks (formerly Valley Forge Turf Club)

None

March 12, 2019

South Philadelphia Turf Club

None

Jan. 17, 2019

Presque Isle Downs

Summer 2019

July 24, 2019 (soft launch)

Mohegan Sun Pocono

2019

Fall 2019

Mount Airy Casino

2019

Before football season 2019

PA casinos and sportsbooks

The PGCB expressed its intent to focus on the launch of retail sportsbooks before giving online sports betting the green light.

However, the casino in Philadelphia won’t long hold that name as Rush Street plans to rebrand the property to Rivers Philadelphia.

The sportsbook at SugarHouse Casino has the following hours of operation:

Monday-Thursday: 10 a.m. to midnight

Friday: 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Saturday: 9 a.m. to 2 a.m

Sunday: 9 a.m. to midnight

Parx Casino

Parx Casino in Bensalem, just outside Philadelphia, opened its sportsbook officially on Jan. 8, 2019. The temporary sportsbook includes 45 self-service kiosks, 20 HD television screens, seven betting windows, and a full-service bar. A larger, more expensive sportsbook is coming soon and will be 10,000 square feet.

And at the end of June, Parx launched its new online sportsbook.

The Parx sportsbook has the following hours of operation:

Monday: 1 p.m.-12 a.m.

Tuesday-Friday: 1 p.m.-1 a.m.

Saturday: 9 a.m.-1 a.m.

Sunday: 9 a.m.-12 a.m.

Harrah’s Philadelphia

Harrah’s Philadelphia is owned by Caesars Entertainment, which also owns three Atlantic City casinos. While the two other Philadelphia casinos have sportsbooks open, Harrah’s Philadelphia sat on the sidelines for a bit. It began testing Jan. 22 and opened for business Jan. 24.

The temporary book is set up in a renovated racebook for now while a permanent book is under construction. Harrah’s hopes to launch its online sportsbook in August.

You can visit Harrah’s Philadelphia sportsbook at the following times:

Monday-Friday: 11 a.m.-12 a.m.

Saturday and Sunday: 10 a.m.-12 a.m.

South Philadelphia Turf Club

South Philadelphia Turf Club is ideally located in the parking lots for Lincoln Financial Field, home to the Philadelphia Eagles, and Citizens Bank Park, home to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Additionally, the Turf Club is a mile away from Wells Fargo Center, home to both the Philadelphia Flyers and Philadelphia 76ers.

The South Philadelphia Turf Club is open:

Monday-Friday: Noon – 11 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. – Midnight

Sunday: 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Pittsburgh sportsbooks

Rivers Casino is the only Pittsburgh casino with an open sportsbook.

Rivers Casino Pittsburgh

The 3,000 square-foot Rivers’ temporary sportsbook is located on the south gaming floor with seating for nearly 100 people and a luxury sports lounge. Rivers is scheduled to open its permanent sportsbook in the spring of 2019 and will be in the center of the casino on the main gaming floor.

The BetRivers sportsbook app launched in June 2019 and functions as a sister site to PlaySugarHouse PA.

Hours of operation are:

Monday – Thursday: 10 a.m. – midnight

Friday: 10 a.m. – 2 a.m.

Saturday: 9 a.m. – 2 a.m.

Sunday: 9 a.m. – midnight

Eastern PA sportsbooks

Valley Forge Casino

On March 13, the FanDuel Sportsbook at Valley Forge officially opened for business after a two-day testing period. Boyd Gaming owns Valley Forge and has partnered with FanDuel to provide sports betting for the casino.

This also brings FanDuel’s online sportsbook to Pennsylvania. As of July 29, sports bettors in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania can bet using FanDuel’s iOS and Android app, and via its website.

FanDuel Sportsbook at Valley Forge operating hours are:

Monday-Thursday: 10 a.m. – 1 a.m.

Friday: 10 a.m. – 2 a.m.

Saturday: 7 a.m. – 2 a.m.

Sunday: 8 a.m. – 1 a.m.

Valley Forge Turf Club

On March 12, Valley Forge Turf Club opened its sportsbook. Admission and parking are free.

The Valley Forge Race & Sportsbook’s official hours of operation are:

Sundays-Tuesdays: noon – 10 p.m.

Wednesdays & Thursdays: noon – 11 p.m.

Fridays & Saturdays: noon-midnight

Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course

The Sportsbook is located near Skybox Sports Bar, just off the casino floor with conveniences such as individual viewing stations and a 50-foot video wall. The permanent sportsbook will be opening later this year.

Monday – Friday: 11 a.m. – midnight

Saturday – Sunday: 10 a.m. – midnight

Presque Isle Downs BetAmerica Sportsbook

With partner Churchill Downs, Presque Isle opened its BetAmerica retail sportsbook for testing on July 24, but a full rollout is planned for Aug. 8. As such, its sportsbook app will get a later start compared to its competition. For now, the retail book features 50 self-betting kiosks.

Visit or call Presque Isle Downs to learn the sportsbook hours prior to the official launch.

PA online casinos

For the purposes of this guide, online casino gambling pertains only to slot play and table games. Due to the fact that some PA casinos elected not to apply for online poker, we will consider it separately from this section.

Online casino launch timeline

On April 17, the PGCB set the official PA online casino launch timeline for July 15. Hollywood and Parx casinos were the first to enter the fray and start testing. SugarHouse PA went live with a small selection of games on July 17.

Casino

Online Partner(s)

Launch Date

Parx Casino

GAN

July 15

Hollywood Casino

IGT

July 15

SugarHouse Philadelphia

Rush Street/Kambi

July 17

Mohegan Sun Pocono

Kindred

2019

Harrah's

888

2019

Valley Forge

IGT/GAN

2019

Presque Isle Downs

Golden Nugget

2019

Mount Airy

888/PokerStars

2019

Wind Creek

N/A

Unknown

Stadium Park Philly Live! Casino

GAN

Unknown

MGM Resorts

bwin.party

Unknown

Golden Nugget AC

NYX

Unknown

The casinos listed below have already applied and received their conditional approval to offer slot play and table games online:

Harrah’s Philadelphia

Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course

Mount Airy Casino

Parx Casino

Wind Creek Resort and Casino (aka Sands Bethlehem)

SugarHouse

Valley Forge Casino

Stadium Casino

Presque Isle Downs and Casino

Mohegan Sun Pocono

The remaining casinos in Pennsylvania never applied for online gaming or withdrew their applications. There will not be online slots or table games branded for the following locations:

Lady Luck Nemacolin

Rivers Casino

Meadows Casino

In all three cases, the ownership of these casinos already has other casino properties in-state. Filing for an application (and paying the $4 million per license fee) is redundant since these properties can merely advertise the online space of their sister properties.

Additional PA online casino licenses

As part of a 2017 gaming law expansion, Pennsylvania granted these 13 properties the ability to apply for online slots, table games, and poker licenses. Altogether, PA casinos applied for and received 27 of the 39 available licenses. The remaining available licenses are as follows:

Six online poker

Three online slots

Three online table games

In order to fill the surplus license spots, the PGCB has allowed gaming interests without an existing casino in the state to apply for any or all of these remaining licenses.

So, it’s possible that there will be online casinos in Pennsylvania without a physical counterpart. Instead, they might be operated by qualified gaming entities (QGEs).

PA online poker

The list of sites with plans to offer online poker in Pennsylvania is much the same as the list for online casino gambling, but a little smaller. There are only seven applicants, compared to 10. While casinos will go online starting July 15, poker is a bit more up in the air on an exact timeline.

Nevertheless, there will be plenty of options for online poker play. The following casinos have applied and been approved for online poker in the state:

Harrah’s Philadelphia

Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course

Mount Airy Casino

Parx Casino

Wind Creek Resort

SugarHouse

Valley Forge Casino

MGM Resorts is seeking to offer online poker, too. The PGCB approved its application in January 2019.

PA gambling and casinos

Pennsylvania is home to 12 gaming operations. Some are standalone properties; others are combination casino and racetrack, or “racinos.” All are under the purview of the PGCB, which functions similarly to the Division of Gaming Enforcement in New Jersey.

Harrah’s Philadelphia

Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course

Mount Airy Casino

Parx Casino

Wind Creek Resort

SugarHouse

Valley Forge Casino

Presque Isle Downs and Casino

Lady Luck Nemacolin

Rivers Casino

Meadows Casino

Mohegan Sun Pocono

A 13th casino, Stadium Casino, is under construction in south Philadelphia and will open in 2020.